Patients at Freshbrook Surgery have complained to Anne Snelgrove, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for South Swindon, about the sudden reduction in opening times at the surgery.
Patients at Freshbrook Surgery have complained to Anne Snelgrove, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for South Swindon, about the sudden reduction in opening times at the surgery.
Letters to patients from the surgery dated 24 July 2014 began arriving on Tuesday 29 July, informing them of the reduction in opening days just three days later on Friday 1 August. The surgery will be closed every Tuesday and Thursday for the next four months.
Commenting on the letters and surgery changes, Anne Snelgrove said: 'Closing the surgery for two days a week is presented to patients in the letter as a done deal and the vast majority of Freshbrook patients had no say in it.'
'The letter was only sent to one person in each household, who is asked to 'share' it with other registered patients. There will be many patients who will not see the letter and are unaware that the surgery is immediately closing two days a week.'
'I have had complaints already from patients who did not receive the letter and found out from a friend or neighbour, and from patients with acute conditions who are unable to travel to the alternative practice in Shaw (two bus journeys' away).
'The Freshbrook Surgery was originally opened in the neighbourhood centre as it is close to four large sheltered accommodation homes. Many vulnerable people rely on the service offered and it is simply unacceptable for NHS England to agree to this closure. It is their responsibility to ensure there are enough doctors in Swindon and they have failed.'
'When the Conservatives came to power in 2010 they scrapped patients' rights to see a doctor within 48 hours. Labour will bring this back, and we will make sure there are enough doctors in Swindon.'
The new body responsible for GP provision in Swindon, NHS England, has failed to work with local GPs to provide full cover across Swindon; they have let down patients in Freshbrook, just as they let down patients of the Marlborough Road surgery which closed in March.
We want to hear your views on the plans to cut the opening times at Freshbrook from five days to three days a week. On the days Freshbrook is shut, the advice to patents is to visit the other surgery at Ridge Green in Shaw. We want to know how practical this is for you, and whether you think this is a good idea.